[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 217 (Tuesday, November 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63081-63082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30110]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration
[TA-W-34,116, TA-W-34,116A]


Tonkawa Gas Processing Woodward, Oklahoma and Delhi Gas Pipeline 
Corp., Dallas, Texas; Notice of Negative Determination on 
Reconsideration on Remand

    The United States Court of International Trade (USCIT) granted the 
Secretary of Labor's motion for a voluntary remand for further 
investigation in Former Employees of Tonkawa Gas Processing and Delhi 
Pipeline Corp. v. Secretary of Labor, No. 98-04-00889.
    The Department's initial denial for the workers of Tonkawa Gas 
Processing, Woodward, Oklahoma and Delhi Gas Pipeline Corporation, 
Dallas, Texas issued on March 16, 1998 and published in the Federal 
Register on April 3, 1998 (63 F.R. 16,574), was based on the fact that 
criterion (3) of the group eligibility requirements of section 222 of 
the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, was not met.
    The petitioners request for reconsideration resulted in a Dismissal 
of Application for Reconsideration which was issued on April 7, 1998 
and published in the Federal Register on April 22, 1996 (63 FR 19,756). 
The Department's review of the application for reconsideration found no 
new substantial information which would bear importantly on the 
Department's determination.
    On remand, the Department contacted company officials, both from 
the parent company and the subject facility, to obtain (1) information 
on the business of Delhi Gas Pipeline and it's relationship with 
Tonkawa Gas processing; (2) information on the business of Tonkawa Gas 
Processing and the Woodward, Oklahoma facility; and (3) additional 
information on production and employment at the subject facility.
    Tonkawa Gas Processing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Delhi 
Group

[[Page 63082]]

which was sold to Koch Industries, Inc. in November, 1997. The Tonkawa 
Gas Processing facility in Woodward, Oklahoma processes liquefied 
natural gases, e.g. Ethane, Propane, Normal Butane, and Isobutane. The 
gas processed by the Woodward facility is only gas from Delhi 
pipelines. Production at the Woodward facility remained relatively 
constant during both 1996 and 1997. In December, 1997, with the 
acquisition of the Delhi Group by Koch Industries, an employment 
streamlining was implemented at the Woodward facility which resulted in 
a net employment loss of one position, a plant operator.
    It is determined, therefore, upon further investigation, that 
employment declines at the Woodward facility were not as a result of a 
decline in production at the facility but rather, were the result of 
attempts by the firm acquiring the subject facility to increase 
operating efficiencies. Further, declines in production at the facility 
subsequent to the acquisition and the net employment reduction were 
attributable to a decline in the supply of raw materials (natural gas) 
which were used in the production of liquefied gas products at that 
facility and could not, therefore, have been attributable to increased 
imports of like or directly competitive products. Further, a review of 
imports of liquefied natural gases indicates that imports declined 
during 1997 compared to the previous year and are less than 10% 
relative to domestic production.

Conclusion

    After consideration on remand, I affirm the original notice of 
negative determination of eligibility to apply for adjustment 
assistance for workers and former workers of Tonkawa Gas Processing, 
Woodward, Oklahoma and Delhi Gas Pipeline Corporation, Dallas, Texas.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 23rd day of October 1998.
Grant D. Beale,
Acting Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 98-30110 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M